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Random Thoughts For the Bye Week

A very hellish 2 months of work is finally done. For a while, it was not looking too promising. There was a real possibility work would have to continue on Sundays. But buckling down paid off, so Sundays are once again reserved for football watching, beer and brat inducing comas every weekend. Thank goodness.

You know what else that means? More time to put coherent sentences together and call them a blog post. I know the 4 of you who visit this site on a regular basis will be happy to hear that. So yes, I'm back, even though I never really left.

The bad thing is the timing. Getting caught up with work during the bye week leaves for not much to talk about on the Packers front. Mainly because the Packers are not playing this week, but also because every "big" discussion point has already been covered this week. So rather than rehash what has already been discussed, here are a few random thoughts I've had as the Packers head into the bye week:

The possibility of Bryan Bulaga being gone several weeks, possibly the rest of the season, scares the hell out of me. TJ Lang did fine when he moved out to RT against the Cardinals. And Evan Dietrich-Smith more than carried his weight when he took over at LG for Lang. But I really like the idea of having EDS as the ultimate swing guy on the OL, someone who can step in and take over anywhere except LT at any time. Making him a starter with rookies Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten as the only backups heading into the stretch run scares me. Is Herb Taylor still available?

During last week's rushing explosion, I commented that I was not overly impressed with the running attack. The three headed beast of Alex Green and James Starks, and Mr. Everything Randall Cobb gained a ton of yards (143 to be exact) but didn't have that WOW factor. I've changed my tune on the running game-I don't care how the yards are gained, just get them. Ugly yards are just as good as finesse yards.

How has Brad Jones gone from being a part time starting OLB (part of the Zombo WaldenJones trio the Packers trotted out in 2010-2011) to full time starter at ILB-and performed so well? Must be that expert coaching by Dom Capers.

For goodness sakes Ted, GET ANOTHER LEG INTO GREEN BAY! If for no other reason to give the incumbent something to think about. Mason Crosby is currently at the bottom of the league in terms of accuracy with a stellar 67%. Not sure if everyone is aware of this, but it does tend to snow in Green Bay in the winter. So if he is struggling in relatively decent weather, what is going to happen when the weather turns? Clear all the cobwebs you need to this week Mason, as long as it results in making field goals.

It is sad to see Donald Driver's swan song season go the way it has. Minimally involved on the offense is not what anyone expected.

It is great to see James Jones emerge in the offense. As someone who has always supported him, the season he is having is like the ultimate middle finger to everyone who ever doubted him.

Kind of hope Greg Jennings is back sooner than later. Not only because his being on the field helps the offense, and not just because it would be nice to see him finish his Packer career strong, but his not playing is killing my fantasy team.

More Tom Crabtree. Please. It's nice having a TE who can catch the ball.

The winner of the NFC North will be decided in Chicago on December 16. And I become more convinced every week the winner of the NFC Championship will be decided January 20 between these two teams. Not sure I could handle another Packers/Bears NFC Championship Game.

Aaron Rodgers is not going to win the MVP this season. I'm convinced it's already been decided that Peyton Manning is going to win the award. Perhaps by some long shot the powers that be will award a co-MVP, like they did with Favre and Barry Sanders in 1997, but I just don't see it happening. Manning has long been a darling of the league, and after sitting out last season, he is back to being Peyton Manning. Rodgers is having another outstanding season, but Manning wins because, well, he's Peyton Manning.

That's it for now. Everyone have a great bye weekend. Here's hoping the Texans destroy the Bears Sunday Night and give the Packers a little help in the standings.

The seats may be too high but I would still like having one of them. I've been on the waiting list a very long time and there are 32,281 in front of me. I probably won't live long enough to get to the top of the list. Hey, the seats are still in Lambeau Field aren't they?

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"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."